Charles pressed his lips together, a dark look crossing his face as he glanced at Peter. "Mind your words, Peter!"Peter raised an eyebrow and gave Charles's shoulder a reassuring pat. "Relax. Nobody's brave enough to make trouble here," he said, then looked over at Sean, who had not said a word. "Why are you just standing there?"Sean, who usually was smiling, looked serious. "Looks like someone's pushing Charles too far!" he said, hinting at something. However, Charles just gave Sean a quick look. "You're staying right here.""Hey!" Sean complained. "Why should I?""Because you're a doctor. It's your job to save lives," Charles said, then he grabbed his coat and left.Sean tried to follow, but Peter blocked him. Peter smiled slyly, his hand resting on Sean's shoulder. "He's off to find his lady. This isn't your rodeo.""You don't get it. Charles is usually so calm, but he gets all worked up around this lady. You might not have seen her, but I have a few times. She's really pret
"It's me! The door's stuck. Can you open it?" Noelle whispered, scared to make a sound that might scare the snake. However, the snake was quick and bit Noelle's leg as soon as she spoke."Ouch!" Noelle screamed, falling to the floor."Noelle? Noelle! What happened?" Yevgen yanked at the door handle. "Noelle, talk to me!""A snake! There's a snake in here!" Noelle's voice was weak, her head spinning.Hearing that, Yevgen did not hesitate. "Noelle, move back. I'll kick the door down!" With a few strong kicks, he broke the door open. "Noelle, are you hurt?"Yevgen saw Noelle on the floor, pale, with a snake close by, flicking its tongue.He quickly grabbed the snake, slammed it against the sink, and threw it aside. Then, he rushed to pick Noelle up from the bathroom floor."Noelle, are you okay?""I..." Noelle's head felt like it was spinning. Yevgen noticed a cut on her calf. "That snake is venomous. Noelle, stay strong! I'll get the venom out!""No, please don't!" Noelle shook
Rowena stood like a fierce guardian in front of Noelle, not letting anyone take her friend away. Lareal raised an eyebrow, his gaze landing on Rowena. He quickly recognized her. He adjusted his glasses and offered a charming smile. "She's your friend, isn't she? She looks hurt. We really should get her to a hospital, or I can't promise she'll be okay." "You..." Rowena looked at Noelle, worry etched on her face, and bit her lip. "Fine, but I'm coming too. We don't even know you guys!"Lareal quirked an eyebrow. "Sure, that can be arranged." He looked at Rowena and Teresa. "You two can follow this young lady to the doctor, okay?"With that, he gave a secret signal to the men in black. They quickly and expertly lifted Noelle and carried her away. Rowena and Teresa shared a quick glance, scooped up Noelle's dropped bag, and hurried after them.Yevgen did not want to be left out and tried to follow, but Lareal's big, tough guys blocked his way. Yevgen was frustrated and upset. "Move as
"Oh, you're Mrs. Sabian!" Lareal smiled, but then said firmly, "I'm sorry, but even if Mr. Sabian was here himself, he wouldn't be able to leave either!"Yessica's heart sank as she realized how serious things were. She looked around for Noelle but could not find her. "Sir, we only came to have fun at the party. We don't even know what went wrong. Making a big deal out of this isn't good for anyone, and there are so many of us here.""Take her away!" Lareal interrupted Yessica, his smile gone. "Mrs. Sabian, you might not know The Majestic Lounge's rules. Anyone who makes trouble here won’t see tomorrow’s sun."Lareal's piercing gaze swept over everyone as she spoke with chilling calm, "And it's not just you. No one is leaving The Majestic Lounge until I say so!""Ahh! How could this happen?""Yeah, how can they do this?""It's all Noelle's fault for going to the bathroom when she didn't need to. She must have ticked someone off!""Talk about bad luck, ending up in a situation li
"Who could have done this to Noelle? And what's the deal with the owner of The Majestic Lounge? This isn’t looking good for her!" Teresa was beside herself with worry.Rowena felt the same way. She was just about to get up and open the door when it swung open from the outside.The man who stepped in brought a chill to the room. It was as if a storm cloud had passed overhead. Rowena gasped. "Charles?"Charles squinted and did not bother with pleasantries. He strode over to Noelle, lifted her gently, and asked, "Noelle?"Noelle was feeling terrible, her mind foggy. Through the haze, she saw Charles's stern, handsome face looking down at her, his eyes filled with tense worry. She reached out to smooth away his frown, but he caught her hand. "Noelle? Does it hurt?"She nodded. "Charles, is it really you? Did you come for me?""Yes!" Charles nodded, kissed her hand softly, and reassured her, "I'm here now. You're going to be fine."His voice was soothing. After making sure Noelle was
Sean was always on the move, drawn to wherever the action was. He loved to be in the thick of things and never worried about getting too involved. Seeing how upset Charles was today, Sean figured he was really angry. He followed Ronald up to the second-floor hall.The hall was packed with people who had been enjoying themselves at The Majestic Lounge just a while ago. Now, they were all huddled together and upset. They were trying to guess what had caused such a commotion. Even the regulars, who had never been stopped before, were caught up in the security checks. Things were really serious.A few wealthy young men were not used to being treated this way and were loudly demanding an explanation. However, they knew better than to challenge the powerful owner of The Majestic Lounge, so they just grumbled.Annie was too frightened to say much, sticking close to Winter and shaking. "Winter, what are we going to do now?"Winter shot Annie a fierce look. She thought Annie always made thi
"Annie's brother is Cody," Rowena blurted out, a note of worry in her voice. "Just taking her away like that doesn't seem right!"Ronald gave a slight smile. "There's nothing to worry about! Ms. Scott, Ms. Saunders, thank you for handling today's situation." Ronald was unusually polite, which was a bit different from how he normally acted. He was being considerate because he knew they were Noelle's best friends."Oh, it's okay," Rowena said with a wave of her hand. "If everything's settled, can we head out?""Absolutely." Ronald grinned. "I'll have someone escort you two home!""No, that won't be necessary. We'll make our own way back!" Rowena might not always have the best temper, but she knew when to be polite. She understood that Ronald was treating them especially well because of Noelle. Plus, it was obvious Ronald had other things to take care of, so they did not want to bother him. "But could you tell us which hospital Noelle is in? We'd like to go see her.""Madam is with M
Spencer did not deal with Ronald much, but he had to admit the guy was good at getting things done.Spencer cracked a smile. "It's been quite a while. Thanks for asking, Mr. Wells!" He glanced around and then got to the point. "So, what's the deal today?""Oh, we've sorted it all out. It's got nothing to do with your wife," Ronald said with a twinkle in his eye to Spencer. "No worries, Mr. Sabian. We would've sent her home even if you hadn't shown up. But since you're here, I've got something to tell you.""Go ahead, Mr. Wells," Spencer said, his forehead slick with sweat. He could feel the powerful aura of Charles’ people. He was usually a goody-two-shoes, but he had pulled some strings for Yessica so she could brag to her classmates.Ronald let out a small smile. "Mr. Sabian, you're a clever man. Think about it, and you'll figure out why we're here today. The lady of the house might not be involved, but she's the one who invited these guests. You know this can’t happen again, rig
The door was suddenly pushed open, and Kelly hurried into the room. "Are you alright?"A clear and crisp voice echoed above her. Noelle was initially startled, and she looked up to see that it was Kelly.The sight of Kelly replaced her pain with surprise. "You…" Why was she here?Before Noelle could finish her sentence, she bent over again, clearly in discomfort."What's wrong? Are you having an episode?""An episode?" Noelle looked up at Kelly, confused. "What episode?""I'm just experiencing fetal movement. The babies have been very active lately," Noelle explained, studying Kelly's face. The concern on Kelly's face quickly turned to surprise."Why are you here?"Noelle could not fathom why Kelly would visit. To her, there was not any connection between them—at least not one Kelly was aware of. Kelly's presence was baffling.However, she could not ignore the strange way Kelly looked at her. "I'm having twins, so my belly looks bigger than usual. These past few days, the babi
Grant's gaze flickered briefly, almost imperceptibly, before he avoided Kelly's question altogether. "It's getting late. I'll have Kresten drive you there."His words made it clear that he was not willing to answer. Knowing Grant's temperament, Kelly understood that pushing further would yield no results. She did not press the issue. "Then please watch over Seth for me. I'll be back soon."When Kelly went downstairs, she saw Kresten already waiting for her. Kresten quickly stepped forward and opened the car door. "Ms. Anderson, please get in."Kelly nodded and got into the car. As soon as she settled, she began to feel a twinge of regret. But deep down, she knew she could not turn back now.She wanted to see Noelle—the sister she had unknowingly been separated from for more than 20 years, someone who shared the same fate as her.The thought of having a sister was entirely new to Kelly. It was an odd and unfamiliar feeling. Memories of their past interactions flooded her mind. No
Seth nodded, tilting his head as he looked at Kelly. "Mommy, you cried."Though young, Seth was incredibly perceptive. Noticing Kelly's red eyes, his small, soft hand reached out to gently rub her cheek.He even leaned closer and blew softly on her face. "Don't cry, Mommy!""I didn't cry, not at all," Kelly said while patting Seth's back gently.There was an apologetic look on her face. "I just forgot to make dinner for you tonight.""Then, Mommy, let's eat out! Seth has money—lots and lots of money. Seth will treat Mommy to some meat!"Seth's sweet, innocent words made Kelly's eyes redden again, but she smiled and nodded. "Alright, Seth. Change your clothes. I'll take you out for dinner, okay?"Later that evening, Kelly sat holding Seth while watching TV, but her mind could not stop drifting back to Noelle's face.Grant's words replayed in her head: she and Noelle were full-blooded sisters, sharing both parents.Kelly looked down at Seth, her thoughts in turmoil. She could
"Are you sure it's a virus?" Kelly asked, her voice trembling slightly."Yes," Grant replied with a firm nod, his sharp eyes fixed on her.He could see the disbelief and shock in Kelly's gaze, along with traces of guilt and unease.However, Kelly suddenly laughed, and she turned her head to face Grant. "Noelle has a virus, so she should go see a doctor. Why are you coming to me? Ha! It's ridiculous that Charles still wants to get me involved when his wife is sick. Why?""Kelly, this virus is extremely rare," Grant explained, his tone steady. "Sean currently doesn't have a clear treatment, but he mentioned one potential solution."Kelly's eyes flickered slightly, betraying a crack in her facade. "If there's a solution, then try it.""Sean believes we need to extract active enzymes from the blood of her closest relatives. Harrison and Shirley should already be at the hospital."Kelly froze again, her lips pressing into a thin line."Oh," she replied, feigning calm, though her emo
Grant noticed Kelly's reluctance to look at the documents and frowned slightly before speaking in an indifferent tone. "You don't have to look at it if you don't want to. After all, it's your decision whether to accept it or not."He placed the file on the table, his tone calm and detached, as though this matter had nothing to do with him.However, Kelly was far from calm. She glared at him, her voice trembling with suppressed anger. "If that's the case, why did you bring it here? Why did you agree? Why…"Her voice grew louder as she yelled at Grant, her emotions spiraling out of control. The noise startled Seth, who was sleeping in the other room.Hearing Seth's cries, Kelly immediately pushed past Grant and rushed into the room to scoop him into her arms. "Seth, don't cry. Mommy's here!""Mommy!" Seth clung tightly to her, his little hands grasping at her clothes."Yes, Mommy's here," Kelly murmured, cradling him as she gently patted his back. She hummed a soothing tune into hi
Kelly's feelings toward Grant were complicated. Growing up, her impression of him was not strong, and they certainly could not be described as having a close sibling bond.Later, Grant left the Andersons, disappearing to places unknown. When he finally returned, Kelly did not stay in Capiton for long before coming to Brookville.After that came the incident that changed everything, ultimately sending her abroad."Aren't you going to invite me in?" Grant glanced inside.Kelly frowned slightly. Although she seemed reluctant, she did not refuse and stepped aside to make way. "Come in. But I don't have much here, so I'm afraid I might not be the best host.""No problem."Grant noticed how much colder Kelly's demeanor had become. As he stepped into the modest apartment, he casually observed its simple layout.It was hard to reconcile this Kelly, living in such a sparse place, with the pampered young woman who once never lifted a finger.Feeling somewhat uneasy, Kelly closed the door
Kelly had been spending the past few days with Seth, whose health had improved significantly. After the recent incident, Kelly stayed in Brookville for a while, using the time to reflect deeply. One of the reasons she had not left Brookville was because of Seth's biological father.It had been almost four years. Not too long, yet not short either.Kelly thought she had let it go, but the DNA report comparing Seth with Maxwell made her hesitate once again.She always knew Seth was not Charles' child. She was fully aware of who the father was, yet his true identity remained a mystery.During those months four years ago, that man had stayed by her side, sharing a deeply unforgettable time with her. It was so unforgettable that she had pushed aside questions about his identity or purpose, choosing instead to immerse herself in the moment with him.Yet she was nothing more than a pawn for him to use against the Hoffmans in the end.Strangely, Charles had been absent from Brookville du
Grant's expression turned ice-cold in an instant. "What are you planning to do?""Kelly is Noelle's biological sister. Sean said only enzymes extracted from close relatives' blood might save Noelle. Whether it works or not, I have to try," Charles replied. His gaze was intense in a way Grant had never seen before.Grant had not expected to ever witness such an expression on Charles' face. He frowned deeply but eventually nodded. "I'll try, but she still doesn't know she's part of the Smith family.""You didn't tell her?" Charles was visibly surprised. He had assumed Grant would have already told Kelly the truth.Now, hearing that Kelly had no idea about her connection to Noelle or the Smith family, Charles was taken aback."I'll bring her over as soon as I can. Give me some time.""Fine, but don't take too long. Nelly can't wait," Charles said firmly. He understood that revealing the truth to Kelly and convincing her to help Noelle would not be easy. However, since Grant had ag
Sean emerged with a somber expression. "Margaret has confirmed that there's a fresh needle mark on Noelle's arm. That shadow from earlier must have injected something into her, which likely triggered her immediate symptoms."Charles clenched his fists, the sound of his knuckles cracking filling the tense air. "What's the plan?""Before the virus spreads too deeply, we could try using blood from Noelle's close relatives to extract certain components that might counteract it," Sean explained.Charles narrowed his eyes. "Be clearer. What are you suggesting?""This idea isn't fully tested. I only came across it in medical literature, and there's no guarantee it will work. If the virus hasn't invaded her bone marrow, we might still have a chance."Charles' expression eased slightly, but a hint of apprehension lingered. He glanced at Sean, who hesitated before continuing. "We need to call in Uncle Harrison and Shirley. Ideally, we should also bring Kelly here.""Fine!"Harrison arrive